Schools re-schedule calendar to make up snow days before Graduation

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Schools around Central Pennsylvania are re-working their calendars so students can make up snow days without losing too much vacation. Some students say they’re willing to go to school as much as possible to make up the time lost.

York Suburban student, Leah Dickey, says she’s spent more time recently outside of the classroom because of the snow. The senior says she’s happy to back, and she’s prepared to make up snow days any day of the week.

She says, “Honestly, I would rather go to school on a Saturday then have graduation change.”

York Suburban School District Superintendent, Shelly Merkle says students will not go to school on Saturdays. She says, “We don’t know if Pennsylvania Department of Education would approve it, but secondly, the students are not going to give their whole selves on a Saturday and to maintain the integrity of the academic program, we prefer not to use a Saturday school.”

But Dr. Merkle says the district plans on making up days during previously scheduled breaks, before the PA System of School Assessment testing.

She says, “Every day of instruction we have before helps the students perform better and that’s our goal.”

The State Education Department extended the PSSA test period from March to later dates in April. A move administrators are thankful for.

Shelly says, “The scores greatly affect students and the school and we want students to be at their best. We plan the year-long curriculum, so the students are ready for those dates.”

The board will vote Monday on snow make up days. This includes a day in March that students were supposed to have off. Now it would be used to prepare for the PSSA’s. Also the Thursday before Easter will be spent at school. Seniors are still scheduled to graduate on May 29th.